Porcelain doll or fox? The creative outlook and practices of older poetry writers

Abstract

This article contributes to the growing interest in academic literature regarding the creative practices of older adults, with a particular focus on the creative poetry writing of older poets. Our qualitative research is framed within existing perceptions about creativity in later life, challenging stereotypes and highlighting the potential for creative growth and expression in older age. The study was conducted within a University of the Third Age (U3A) group in Melbourne, Australia, providing a unique opportunity to understand creative practices directly within an established poetry class. In this study we used reflective post-class data from participants. We analysed the data using Csikszentmihalyi’s concepts of creative action, flow, and the individual’s role within systemic constraints and freedoms. Our findings challenge a common narrative that associates ageing with decline in general and in creativity. Instead, we demonstrate that older adults possess a remarkable capacity for creative writing and poetic expression. Far from diminishing, creativity in older adults is enriched by life experiences, emotional depth, and a profound understanding of life’s complexities. These results contribute to a strengths-based discourse on ageing, suggesting that later life can be a time of creative flourishing. This study contributes to the literature on self-perceptions of creativity amongst older poets and encourages a re-evaluation of societal perceptions of ageing and creativity.